The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-23

SuDJugatlon OF the South, with Its con-
sequences, was altogether beneficial to
the cause of human progress and Re
publican government, the misrepresen-
tations OF current history are such that
there is danger that the Confederate
cause, so oyerwhelmly just and defensi-
bic before the tribunal of truth and i'm
partial history, viii be so covered with
obloquy from distortion of facts and
suppression of truth, as TO be misjudged
by posterity. 1t devolves on the sur
vivors of the Confederate period to
preserve the truth Of their history, and
hand down from generation to genera
tion correct account of the impelling
cause of the unfortunate struggle, in
order that the cruelty of injustice to
our motives shall not be added to the
pangs of defeat. The world has done
justice to Southern valor, but the just
meed of merit has been awarded to the
motives of the Southern people.
If the apprehension of danger did not
Justify our movement, surely the antici
patton of the result of subiugation, as
practically illustrated in its consequent
ces, has furnished ample vindication of
the heroic effort to avert it, What just
historian Of the future, with the expert
ence of the Southern people since the
war, will blame their movement for in
dependence, if he shall grant their pre-
science to anticipate what has befallen
them at the hands of the government of
the u. 81 Who can view the wreck
and ruin around us, the subversion of
society, the aseendancy of ignorance,
the elevation of incompetency, the de-
probation of virtue, integrity and in
4 Al.
industry as exemplified in the recon
structed States, as the direct effect of
the policy of the victorious government,
without according the highest praise to
the craftsmanship which foresaw, and
the valor which struggled to avert such
dire calamities?
1t is truth that the Southern move
ment sprang from just such anticipa-
ton. The oft repeated charge that am
bition melted the movement is false,
and proceeds from ignorance or malice.
| The course of the Southern people was
dividual, who seeks to avoid injury by
withdrawing from an association, the
continuance of which he considers to be
fraught with evil to his interest.
1t was an exercise of the right inker-
1 OAI IL CfOAy POOBAC W SliS1HSC bAGiA SON-
ernmental relations, when government
ceases to effectuate the object of its in
stitution.
Government is not itself an end. 1t
is but means to an end, and that is for
the welfare of the people for whom it
has been instituted, and failing in this,
it has no sanctity. The doctrine of the
| Divine right of Kings and the sanctity
| ItRf IN ffzalf - a1,,lo1ad
fallacy of the past.
The movement of the Southern peo-
pie, impelled by a sense of danger, and
animated with the determination to
avert it, presents one of the sublimest
spectacles ever exhibited in the worlds
history. Born to an inheritance of free
dom; jealous of the glories of the Union,
of which the South was so large and inn
portant part, and to the formation of
which her people had contributed SO
much, her sons reverenced the Constitu
ton of their fathers and the Union it
formed, and shrank with awe from the
idea of being deprived of either. Proud
of the historic memories of the fortitude
and heroism of the men and women of
the South in the revolution, their de-
| scendents were full of admiration of the
structure they reared; and taught to
view the Constitution these patriots had
made as the palladium of their rights,
the Southern people chung to its plain
provisions, and rendered the homage of
devoted hearts to the Union it formed.
| So strong was Southern devotion to
the Union that the idea of dissolving it
had for long time to be endured before
it was embraced-even after thoughts
lr.f u -, E h
were associated with its continuance.
The resources of the brightest intellects
and most patriotic hearts of the states
men of the South were exhausted in
devising expedients to save Union, by
staying the march of aggression, which
threatened to endanger it. The various
compromise measures, which for time
allayed excitement and quieted appre
hension, are an evidence of this. The
suggestion of dual presidency was
device of the great intellect and patriotic
soul of Americas greatest statesmen to
protect the South, and yet preserve the
Union. The idea of notification sprang
from the same desire. The non-prepara-
ton of the Southern States for the ne
cessities of war is an evidence of the
hopeful trust of her people in fancied
ability to preserve the Union, and enjoy
their rights. If hostility to the Union,
and desire to break it, were felt by the
people of the South, their course was
marked by inexplicable and unexempled
folly; for it is part of history that no
preparation whatever had been made by
the South for war, when it was found
to be imminent. Neither military or
ganization nor armaments, nor proyis-
ion for them existed. The truth is that
disunion and war were surprise to the
South, and were accepted as a dire
necessity to avert what seemed TO be a
greather evil. The charge that the
Southern people were hostile to the
Union, and desired to overthrow it, is a
groudless alumny-falsified by their
history. Her sons were foremost in the
revolutionary struggle-her statesmen
conspicuous in the councils of the gov
eminent. The banner of the Union was
never unfurled on land or sea, where
danger was to be encountered and death
|. endured in her service, when Southern
men did not rally around 1t. 1he
|. brightest laurels of the wars of the
, Revolution of 1912 and of 1916, we're
J plucked on fields of carnage by Southern
| soldiers, while the whole people of the
, South rendered the homage of patriotic
hearts to the glories of the American
, Union. That it might be perpetual was
! the feryent wish of every Southern soul.
1t was in large measure the work OF
J Southern minds and hands. The decla-
: ration of independence itself, was the
) offspring of Southern inteliect-South-
t ern valor contributed largely to main
i tain it. The Constitution was, in a
: great degree, the work of Southern men
Southern statesmen shaped and moulded
| the policy of the government, and the
whole South felt just pride in the
2 triumphs of the Union, so largely theiI
own. 1t was not until the mournfu
t conviction forced itself on the greai
t Southern SOUL reluctant to accept it al
!, last, that this Union of States, created
!; by the conioint efforts of South ane
7 North, was about to be employed as al
], engine to destroy the South, that afec
e ton and reverence for it were weakened
q and determination made TO abandon
q the Union, and sare the Constitution; ans
$ when the Union was abandoned by tn,
, Southern people, they immediatel.
S formed union of their own, and bull
q it upon the Constitution they had >
r long reyered.
3 They thuAevinced, Enthusiastically tha
b Union was desirable, and that the Con
e stitution was acceptable, and among tn
e first acts of the Confederate government
II thus formed, was to try to establisl
d terms of friendship with the U. s., thu
e showing that no hostility was felt to th
e people, or to the government of tn
II u. s.
II A calm retrospect of the history o
It the q. s. affords just grounds for won
Y der that the sectional controversy, whic